Japanese Kawatashiro: “Today in Naples, next year in Tokyo”

Yuka Kawatashiro, goalkeeper of Japan’s women’s water polo team, after the victory over the Czech Republic, which brought the Japanese athletes at the top of Group A together with Hungary, says: “These three points are important, now our goal is to defeat Hungary and stand alone at the top of the group. We feel confident, we can count on our excellent counterattacks to have an advantage in the spaces and on our defence. The Hungarian team is strong, so we will need great communication in order to have a good defensive phase”. For the young Japanese athlete, Napoli 2019 may act as a springboard to greater goals. “Soon there will be the World tournament in Gwangju (South Korea, ed.), I want to improve in order to join the Olympic team for Tokyo 2020. As for Naples? People are very friendly here, I love the food and the atmosphere is amazing”.